Coax connector module

ABSTRACT

A coax connector module comprising a housing accommodating electrically conducting coax contact elements. Each contact element having a contact side in the form of a coaxial inner and outer contact part, and a connecting side in the form of an electrical terminal and in electrically conducting casing surrounding the terminal in an electrically insulating manner. The electrical terminal being connected to the inner contact part and having a connecting end, and the casing being connected to the outer contact part and having at least one connecting end, for mounting on a printed circuit board. The casing being constructed from walls of sheet metal or a machined block of metal. To reduce the pitch distance between the respective connecting ends of adjacent casings, one or more of the walls of adjacently situated casings can be of integral or partially common construction.

This is a reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,343, Ser. No. 07/799,531, filedNov. 27, 1991.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a coax connector and more particularly to acoax connector module with a plurality of shielded electrical contactelements wherein each contact element has, a contact end formed ofcoaxial inner and outer contact pans and a connecting end for mountingon a printed circuit board.

When using high frequency (HF) signals, it is particularly important toelectrically shield the terminal connected to the inner part of thecoaxial contact element in order to avoid interference andelectromagnetic stray or leakage fields around the terminal. PCTInternational Publication No. WO 87/07441 published Dec. 3, 1987discloses a shielded electrical connector comprising a housing having aplurality of housing sections of conductive material, each having aplurality of retaining channels for accommodating the contact elementsand terminals disposed therein. Such a housing is in practice relativelyexpensive to manufacture because of the plurality of housing sections ofconductive material, whether or not coated with insulating material, andthe fact that the housing is designed for a specific connectorembodiment having, for example, a specific number of contact elements.

PCT International Publication No. WO 90/09686 published Aug. 23, 1990discloses a metallic shielding shell for placement over an isolatedterminal. The shell only partially encloses the terminal and is inelectrical contact with a ground terminal of the connector. With such aseparate shielding shell, the signal terminal, which is the terminalconnected to the inner contact part of a coaxial contact element, is nottotally enclosed. Interference signals can therefore be superimposed onthe various information signals communicated via the contact element.Also stray radiation and accordingly mutual interference betweenadjacent contact elements is not eliminated with the shielding shelldisclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a coax connector module havingshielding means which can be manufactured with a greater designflexibility, which is not restricted to a specific number of contactelements, which maximizes shielding and which is less expensive to makethan prior coaxial connectors.

The coax connector module of the present invention includes a housing inwhich a plurality of electrical contact elements are arranged. Thehousing has a contact side wherein the contact ends of the contactelements are disposed and a connecting side wherein the connecting endsof the contact elements project. The contact end of each contact elementis in the form of coaxial inner and outer contact parts. The connectingend of the contact elements are adapted for mounting on a printedcircuit board. An electrical terminal is connected to the inner coaxialcontact part. The other end of the terminal forms the connecting end ofthe contact element for mounting on a printed circuit board. Anelectrically conducting casing or shielding member encloses the terminalin an electrically insulating manner, the casing having at least one orpreferably a pair of connecting ends for mounting on a printed circuitboard.

The casing or shielding member of the present invention completelysurrounds the signal terminal of the coax contact element whichmaximizes the shielding effect. The casing itself is advantageouslyprovided with connecting end for grounding.

The use of shielding casings is especially of advantage in anotherembodiment of the present invention wherein a coax connector module hasa plurality of contact elements arranged in rows and columns, and one ormore walls or wall parts disposed between the respective connecting endsof adjacent casings of the contact element in a column are of integralor partially common construction.

The common construction of one or more walls results in a reduction ofthe pitch distance between the respective connecting ends of adjacentcasings. As a result, less space is needed for mounting the connectormodule on a printed circuit board. This is important in view of thepresent trend towards miniaturization of electrical components andapparatus which on the one hand makes the printed circuit boards smallerand on the other hand accommodates as many components as possible on aboard of standard dimensions. In particular, the connector moduleaccording to the invention is suitable for a pitch distance of 3.5 mm.

In yet another embodiment of the connector module according to theinvention, the plug-in direction is disposed parallel to the plane ofthe board. The shielding members or casings are of a box-type andessentially L-shaped, having a first and second leg. The outer contactpart of a contact element is connected to the free end of the first leg.At least one connecting end of the casing is situated at the free end ofthe second leg, and the oppositely situated walls of the second leg ofadjacent casings are of integral or partially common construction.

In order to make possible a universal assembly of, on the one hand, thehousing provided with the contact elements and, on the other hand, thecasings provided with solder or press-fit ends, yet another embodimentof the present invention provide box-type casings with projectingparallel lips for electrically contacting and mechanically connecting acasing to the outer coaxial contact part of a contact element.Preferably, the lips are formed by two oppositely situated walls of thecasing and are mechanically and electrically connected to the outercontact part of a respective contact element by spot welding.

The casing or shielding member according to the invention can be formedrelatively simply and rapidly from sheet metal by pressing or punchingand suitably modelling, without the need for special machines. This hasa favorable effect on the cost price of the casings and, consequently,on the connector module as a whole.

However, the casing according to the invention can be formed also from ablock of metal, which is machined by milling and drilling to form one ormore connecting ends and having one or more inner channels, in each ofwhich a terminal for contacting the inner part of a coax contact elementis arranged in an electrically insulating manner with respect to thecasing.

In a preferred embodiment, the coax connector module, the casing andterminal and the corresponding coaxial inner and outer contact parts ofone or more contact elements form a separate unit to he arranged in thehousing. The unit and housing have means for mutually locking with oneanother. These locking or latching means may comprise lips having a freeend radially projecting from the outside surface of an outer contactpart of a contact element. These free ends each engage in the assembledstate in a recess in the housing of the connector module.

It should he evident that such a separate unit (for example, a unit oftwo contact elements making up a row of coax connector module) willprovide for a very flexible and universal assembly or connector modules,independent of the number of rows of such a connector housing.

The connecting ends of the conductor and the chasing may be formed for asolder connection (either through hole or surface mount) in the circuitboard hole. Alternatively, the connecting ends may be formed as a "pressfit" electrical terminals for compliant press-fit connection inplated-through holes.

The invention is explained in greater detail below on the basis of anumber of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows, diagrammatically and in perspective, coax connectormodules to be mutually coupled and having shielding cases constructedfrom sheet metal for mounting on a printed circuit board according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically a cross-sectional view of the coaxconnector module shown in the right-hand part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows, diagrammatically and in perspective, the casing accordingto the invention used in FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

FIGS. 4a and 4b respectively, show diagrammatically a side view of thecoax connector module illustrated in the right-hand part of FIG. 1 on anenlarged scale and partially broken away and a partial view towards theconnecting side of the housing;

FIG. 5 shows diagrammatically a cross-sectional view of a coax connectormodule according to the invention by analogy with FIG. 2, having amodified embodiment of the casings;

FIG. 6 shows diagrammatically and in perspective, by analogy with theright hand part of FIG. 1, a coax connector module having shieldingcases constructed from a machined block of metal for mounting on aprinted circuit board according to the invention;

FIG. 7 shows diagrammatically a cross-sectional view or the coaxconnector module according to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows, diagrammatically and in perspective, a press-fitconnecting end suitable for use in the invention on an enlarged scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, the reference number 1 shows a cut connector module assemblycomposed or two coax connector modules 2, 3 to be connected to eachother and having a connecting side 4 for mounting on, respectively, aprinted circuit board 5, 6.

The coax connector module 2 is constructed of a plastic housing 7, aportion of which is shown broken away for the sake of clarity. In thisexemplary embodiment, the housing 7 carries two rows each containingthree coax contact elements 8 composed of a cylindrical outer contactpart 9 which surrounds a pin-type inner contact part 10, both ofelectrically conducting material.

The coax connector module 3 to be coupled to the coax connector module 2comprises a housing 11, a portion of which is shown broken away for thesake of clarity, having two rows of three coax contact elements 12. Eachcoax-contact element 12 comprises a cylindrical outer contact part 13which surrounds a tubular inner contact part 14 shown in broken lines,both of electrically conducting material.

The housing 7 of the coax connector module 2 is provided with grooves 15which interact with projections in the housing 11 of the connectormodule 3 (which are not shown). These projections and grooves effect asuitable guide for contacting the connectors to be coupled. Thepossibility is also avoided that, with a plurality of adjacently mountedconnectors, an incorrect contacting may occur because a connector to becoupled partly makes contact to one connector and partly makes contactto the adjacent connector (anti-mismatch guard). The housing 7 isfurthermore provided with locking slots 16 in which locking projectionsof locking means such as, for example, those shown in U.S. Pat. No.5,011,425 issued Apr. 30, 1991 and assigned to the same assignee as thepresent application, engage in the contacted state. Furthermore, codingblocks can also be incorporated in the slots 16 for interaction withmatching coding blocks to be received in the housing 11, for whichpurpose the housing 11 is provided with hook-type projections 17, allthese features, being as illustrated in the aforenoted U.S. Pat. No.5,011,425.

To locate the coax connector modules 2, 3 on a printed circuit board,the respective housings 7, 11 are provided, as shown, with positioningpins 18, 19. In the mounted state, the pins 18, 19 engage incorrespondingly situated locating hole, 20, 21 in the respective printedcircuit boards 5, 6.

The box-type casings 22, 23 situated at the connecting side 4 of thecoax connector modules 2, 3 which casings are connected to the outercontact part 13 of the associated contact element 8, 12, are eachprovided with two pin-type connecting ends 24 for connecting them to therespective printed circuit board 5, 6. For this purpose, the printedcircuit boards 5, 6 are provided with correspondingly situatedconnecting holes 25. To connect the inner contact parts 10, 14 of acontact element 8, 12, a connecting end 26 extends outward from thecasings 22, 23, the board 5, 6 being provided with correspondinglysituated contact holes 27.

It will be clear that the connector module 2 may also be provided withcoax contact elements 12 or a combination of coax contact elements 8,12. This applies, of course, to the connector module 3. If desired, thehousings 7, 11 may be provided with more or less than two rows of threecontact elements, according to the requirements. The contact elements 8,12 of the coax connector modules 2, 3 may, of course, be contacted bycoaxial cables provided with suitable coax plugs, for example providedwith locking means such as those shown in the above mentioned U.S. Pat.No. 5,011,425.

In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 of the coax connector module 3according to FIG. 1, some components art shown in broken lines for thesake of clarity. The outer contact part 13 of the contact element 12 isextended so as to project outside the housing 11 in the direction of theconnecting ride 4, the box-type casings 22 and 23, respectively, beingelectrically and mechanically connected by means of spot welds which arediagrammatically indicated by open circles 30. The contact elements 12are accommodated in channels 31 formed separately in the housing 11,which channels are provided on the inside along the circumference withone or more recesses 29 in which the radially projecting lips 28 forlocking the contact elements 12 to the housing 11 can engage.

In FIG. 2 it can clearly be perceived that, in this embodiment of theinvention viewed from the contact side or the contact element 12, therear wall of the casing 23 partially forms the front wall of theadjacent casing 22. As a consequence of the measure, the connecting ends24, 26 associated with the casings 22, 23 can be arranged in a simplemanner at an equal mutual pitch distance d, for example a pitch distanceof 4 mm.

FIG. 3 shows, in perspective and on an enlarged scale, the L-shapedcasings 22, 23 manufactured from sheet metal. In the embodiment shown,the casings 22 and 23 are assembled from side walls 35, 36 to which atop wall 37, 38 and, if necessary, a bottom wall 39, 40, respectively,connect. As suggested by arrows 32, in the mounted state the rear wall33 or the casing 23, viewed in the direction of the arrow, contacts tothe front wall 35 of the casing 22. The rear wall 33 of the casing 23consequently effects, together with the front wall 34, a portion of theshielding of the casing 22. The casing 22 is furthermore provided with arear wall 41 and the casing 23 is, provided with a front wall 42, allthese feature being such that, in the mounted state or the two casings,the respective terminals 45 are completely surrounded by sheet metal,which terminals or conductors 45 are shown in broken lines in FIG. 2.

For mounting on a printed circuit board, the casing 22, 23 are eachconstructed with connecting ends 24, integrated with the respective rearwall 41, 33, in the form of connecting pins for connecting them to theprinted circuit by soldering. The side walls 33, 36 are extended to formparallel lips 43 for electrically and mechanically connecting thecasings 22, 23 to the outer contact parts 9, 13 of a contact element 8or a contact element 12, respectively. One or more of the walls of thecasings 22, 23 may be formed by folding from one single metal sheet. Theother walls may, if necessary, be connected thereto by soldering orwelding, so that an optimal shielding action of the respective conductoragainst electromagnetic interferences is obtained.

FIG. 4a shows, partially broken away and on an enlarged scale, the crosssection according to FIG. 2, in which the connection or the casing 22,23 to the outer contact part 13 and the connection of the terminal 45,surrounded by a casing 22, 23 to the inner contact part 14 of a contactelement 12 are shown partially broken away. FIG. 4b shows a partial viewtowards the housing 11 from the connecting side 4 thereof, withoutcasings 22, 23 mounted.

As already described above, the casings 22, 23 are electrically andmechanically connected to the outer contact part 9, 13, extended towardsthe connecting side of a respective contact element 8, 12 by spot welds30. The terminal 45 located by means of electrical insulation 44 in acasing 22, 23 has a connecting end 26, projecting outside the associatedcasing, in the form of a connecting pin for solder mounting on a printedcircuit board and another connecting end 46 which engages as a plug pinin the portion, designed as contact socket 47 projecting towards theconnecting side 4 of the respective module 3, of the inner contact part14, 10 of a contact element 12, 8 respectively (FIG. 1).

FIG. 4b shows a view or a contact element 12 from the connecting side 4of the housing 11 of the coax connector module 3. The contact socket 47can be clearly perceived therein. It can also be seen that the outercontact part 13, extended to the connecting side 4, is flattened at thesides, where the lips 43 of the respective casings 22, 23 engage, asindicated by the reference numeral 48. These flattened parts 48 producea convenient, electromagnetically sealed connection of the casings 22,23 to the respective outer contact part 13. If desired, the connectionof the lips 43 to the respective outer contact part 9, 13 may also beconstructed as a locking plug/socket connection, so that the casings 22,23 can be coupled electrically and mechanically to their respectiveterminal 45 as a whole in the form of a plug connection having a housing7, 11 provided with coax contact elements 8, 12 by plugging-on.

FIG. 5 shows a variant by analogy with the cross section according toFIG. 2, in which, viewed in the plug-on direction of the module, thefront wall 34 of the respective casing 22' is of common construction forthe two casings (see also FIG. 3). Note also the offset position of theconnecting ends 24 of the casings 22', 23' with respect to FIG. 1, 2 or3. It will be clear that, although not shown, other opposite walls ofthe adjacent casings can be of common construction.

FIG. 6 shows another variant of a coax connector module according to theinvention, in which the casings 49, belonging to the contact elements 12in a column (x-direction in FIG. 6) are of integral type and formed froma machined block of metal. The contact elements 12 form rows inY-direction.

FIG. 7 shows partly a cross-sectional view of the embodiment accordingto FIG. 6 having a casing 49 formed of a block of metal 50. In thisblock 50 . .channels.!. .Iadd.passages .Iaddend.are milled and drilledfor receiving the terminals 45. The terminals 45 are surrounded byelectrical insulation 44, in order to electrically isolate the terminals45 from the walls of the block 50. The outer contact part 13 of acontact elements 12 is provided with a flange 51 by means of which thecontact element is connected to the block 50, for example by solderingor spot-welding.

Particularly in right-angled blocks 50 of reduced dimensions, theinsertion of the terminals 45 may be difficult to achieve, due to theirbending. In such cases, a terminal 45 may be composed of two straightpieces, inserted from the respective openings of the . .housing.!..Iadd.casing .Iaddend.49 and electrically connected to each other, forexample by soldering, at their meeting point. For this purpose, theblock 50 may be provided with a hole running from the outright surfaceto this meeting point. After connection of the terminal pieces, the holeis filled up with insulating material and closed by a metallic cover.

The casing and associated contact elements can be provided as anintegral part for mounting with the housing for forming the connectormodule according to the invention.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a so-called "press-fit" connecting end 52for mechanically locked assembly in a plated-through hole in a printedcircuit board. The respective connecting ends 24, 26 are in this caseprovided with fins 53 which connect to a base 54. The press-fitconnecting end consequently has an H-shaped cross-section. For a moredetailed description, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,174, alsoassigned to the same assignee as the present application.

The invention has been illustrated above on the basis of exemplaryembodiments in which the casings are designed for use with modules whoseplug-on direction is parallel to the surface of the printed circuitboard (right-angled). It will be clear that the invention can be usedwith the same advantage in the case of coax connector modules formounting on a printed circuit board; for example, a so called"back-plane", in which the respective connecting ends of the casingsextend in the plug-on direction of the respective connector module.

The connection of the casings, to the respective outer contact parts is,of course, not restricted to spot welding or soldering. Although spotwelding is an advantageously technique, essentially any connectingmethod known per se, including screw thread connection, snap-inconnection, riveted connection etc, can be used. The connecting ends ofthe casings and their respective connector may, moreover, be of aconstruction suitable for the surface mounting technique. In thespecialist literature this is termed a "surface mounting device".

The term "printed circuit board" used above and in the claims isunderstood, in general, as meaning any board or substrate havingelectrically conducting tracks or paths, that is to say, for example,also a substrate of a liquid-crystal display and the like.

I claim: . .1. A coax connector module for mounting to a circuitsubstrate comprising: for mounting on said circuit board substrate..!.2.The coax connector module of claim 1 wherein each shield member isconstructed from sheet metal and the terminal is disposed therein andinsulated from the surrounding shield member by insulating material. 3.The coax connector module of claim 1 wherein the shield member is formedfrom a machined block of metal and the terminal is disposed therein andinsulated from the surrounding shield member by insulating material. 4.The coax connector module of claim 1 wherein the shield members arebox-like and L-shaped, the connecting end portion of said shield memberextending from one end of said L-shaped member and at least one contactlip for contacting said outer coaxial part of the contact elementextending from another end of said L-shaped member.
 5. The coaxconnector module of claim 4 wherein the shield members each have a pairof parallel contact lips for electrically contacting and mechanicallyconnecting the shield member to the outer coaxial contact part of thecontact element and wherein the shield members each have a pair ofconnecting end portions for mounting to the circuit substrate to formalternate rows with the connecting end portions of the contact elementswhen mounted on the circuit substrate.
 6. The coax connector module ofclaim 5 wherein the pair of parallel contact lips are formed byextensions of two opposing, side-walls of said shield member and saidcontact lips are spot welded to the outer coaxial contact part.
 7. A.Iadd.casing for a .Iaddend.coaxial connector module adapted to connectterminals between conductors on a circuit substrate and .Iadd.the innerconductor .Iaddend.of coaxial contact elements of . .a.!. .Iadd.thecoaxial .Iaddend.connector .Iadd.module.Iaddend., comprising:a firstconductive shield member .Iadd.mounted to one of the coaxial contactelements and .Iaddend.formed to at least partially shield one of saidterminals .Iadd.extending from the one coaxial contact element.Iaddend.;and a second conductive shield member cooperating with said firstconductive shield member so that said one terminal is substantiallysurrounded by a combination of said first and second conductive shieldmembers and .Iadd.so that said first and second conductive shieldmembers share a common wall therebetween.Iaddend.. .Iadd.8. The casingof claim 9, wherein said first and second conductive shield members areadapted to be mounted on circuit substrate to effect said cooperationtherebetween. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. The casing of claim 7, wherein saidfirst and second conductive shield members are integrally formed withina block of conductive material and wherein said block has a common wallshared by said first and second conductive shield members..Iaddend..Iadd.10. The casing of claim 7, wherein said first and secondconductive shield members are defined by box-like structures..Iaddend..Iadd.11. The casing of claim 10, wherein said first conductiveshield member comprises at least three connected walls forming a portionof said box-like structure with an opening in one side of said box-likestructure and wherein said second conductive shield member comprisesfour connected walls forming said box-like structure, at least one ofsaid walls of said second conductive shield member being received insaid opening of said first conductive shield member and serving as acommon wall of both first and second conductive shield members..Iaddend..Iadd.12. The casing of claim 7, wherein said first and secondconductive shield members each have a first leg and a second legconnected together to form an L-shape. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. The casing ofclaim 12, wherein said first and second legs are defined by box-likestructures. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. The casing of claim 7, wherein each ofsaid terminals has a first end that terminates in one of said coaxialcontact elements and a second end that terminates in a connection meansfor electrically connecting to one of the conductors on the circuitsubstrate, said casing having a substrate side and a connector sidewherein said connection means extends outside of the casing from thesubstrate side, said first conductive shield member and said secondconductive shield member each comprise a number of connecting endsextending from opposing edges of the substrate side for connecting theshield members to the circuit substrate, said connecting ends beingarranged to provide a substantially equal mutual pitch distance with theconnection means. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. The casing of claim 14, wherein thefirst and second shield members cooperate to substantially surround twoterminals and wherein a first connection means associated with one ofthe two terminals is situated between a first set of connecting ends anda second connection means associated with the other of the two terminalsis situated between a second set of connecting ends, each set ofconnecting ends comprises four connecting ends with two connecting endsbeing common to each of said sets. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. A casing for acoaxial connector module adapted to connect terminals between conductorson a circuit substrate and the inner conductor of .Iaddend.coaxialcontact elements supported in a plurality of passages in an insulativehousing of the coaxial connector module, comprising:a conductive casingblock with a substantially rectangular shape and having a plurality ofparallel spaced terminal-receiving passages forming common wallstherebetween, the passages extending from a connecting side of thecasing block to a substrate side of the casing block, wherein theconnecting side and the substrate side are adjacent to one another andsaid passages are substantially L-shaped said L-shaped passages beingaligned with the passages of the housing on the connecting side of thecasing block. .Iadd.17. The casing of claim 16, further comprising: aplurality of coaxial contact elements each being connected to arespective one of the plurality of passages and extending from theconnecting side; a plurality of terminals each being coupled to arespective one of the plurality of coaxial elements and extendingthrough the respective passage and out from the substrate side, theterminals being individually shielded by the casing block and at leastone of the common walls. .Iaddend..Iadd. . A coaxial connector modulecomprising:a number of conductive casings, each conductive casingforming a plurality of substantially enclosed passages between a firstend and a second end of each said casing; a plurality of coaxial contactelements mounted on said casing such that each of said coaxial contactelements extends from a respective one of said passages beyond thesecond end of said casing; an insulative housing having a plurality ofchannels for receiving said coaxial contact elements, wherein saidchannels are arranged in a predetermined array of rows and columns andwherein said passages are formed in an array of rows and columns tocorrespond to said predetermined array of rows and columns and whereinsaid conductive casing forms a single column of passages therein suchthat the number of passages corresponds to the number of rows in saidpredetermined array of rows and columns and said number of saidconductive casings being substantially equal to the number of columns insaid predetermined array of rows and columns. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. Thecoaxial connector module of claim 18, wherein said coaxial contactelements and respective channels are adapted to provide a multiplicityof arrangements of rows and columns. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. The coaxialconnector module of claim 18, wherein said casing comprises:a pluralityof conductive shield members cooperating to form said passages..Iaddend..Iadd.21. The coaxial connector module of claim 20, whereinsaid plurality of conductive shield members have a box-like shape andwherein said passages formed by said plurality of conductive shieldmembers are L-shaped, the coaxial connector further comprising: aplurality of terminals such that each of said plurality of terminals isconnected to a corresponding one of said plurality of coaxial contactelements and extends through said respective one of said passages..Iaddend..Iadd.22. A coaxial connector module comprising: a conductivecasing forming a plurality of substantially enclosed passages between afirst end and a second end of said casing; a plurality of coaxialcontact elements mounted on said casing such that each of said coaxialcontact elements extends from a respective one of said passages beyondthe second end of said casing; an insulative housing having a pluralityof channels for receiving said coaxial contact elements; and 1ockingmeans for locking the conductive casing to the housing..Iaddend..Iadd.23. The coaxial connector module of claim 22, whereinsaid channels are arranged in a predetermined array of rows and columnsand wherein said passages are formed in an array of rows and columns tocorrespond to said predetermined array of rows and columns..Iaddend..Iadd.24. A coaxial connector module comprising:a conductivecasing forming a plurality of substantially enclosed passages between afirst end and a second end of said casing; and a plurality of coaxialcontact elements mounted on said casing such that each of said coaxialcontact elements extends from a respective one of said passages beyondthe second end of said casing wherein said coaxial contact elements havelatching means connected thereto; and an insulative housing having aplurality of channels for receiving said coaxial contact elements..Iaddend..Iadd.25. The coaxial connector module of claim 24, whereineach said channel forms a cylinder-like passageway through said housingand is provided with at least one recess formed around the perimeter ofsaid passageway along a portion thereof such that said latching meansengage said recess when said contact element is received in said channelto lock said contact element to said housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. A coaxconnector module for mounting to a circuit substrate comprising: ahousing of electrically insulating material having a contact side formating with another connector and a connecting side for mounting on saidcircuit substrate; a plurality of electrical contact elements ofelectrically conductive material disposed in said housing and extendingfrom the contact side to the connecting side, each contact elementhaving a contact end portion disposed at said contact side and aconnecting end portion extending from said connecting side, each contactend portion formed of coaxial inner and outer parts, each connecting endportion being an end portion of an electrical terminal which extends toand electrically connects to the inner coaxial part of said contact endportion of the contact element; and a plurality of shield members ofelectrically conductive material disposed adjacent one another at theconnecting side of the housing and extending within the housing, eachshield member mechanically connecting and electrically contacting withthe outer coaxial part of the contact end portion of a respectivecontact element, said shield members surrounding said terminals in anelectrically insulating manner, said shield members each having at leastone connecting end portion similar to said terminal for mounting on saidcircuit board substrate and wherein one or more contact elements,including the coaxial inner and outer contact parts and the terminal,are disposed within one shield member and together with the shieldmember form a separate unit with latching means which can be insertedand locked in said housing as a unit. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. The coaxconnector module of claim 26 wherein said latching means include lipsprojecting from an outer surface of said coaxial outer contact part ofsaid contact element, said projecting lips have a free end which engagecorresponding recesses in the housing to lock said unit in said housing..Iaddend.